Transcript Nutrition: Key to Healthy Long Term Care

Nutrition:
Key to Healthy Long Term Care
Presented to HOTWAGS
June 11, 2008
Suzy Weems, PhD, RD, CSSD, LD
Good Nutrition:
Essential to Successful Aging
• Essential for
– Health
– Functionality
– Positive quality of life
• Nutrition ‘s role may be
– Preventative
– Management
Good Nutrition:
Essential to Successful Aging
• Nutrition facilitates healthy aging by
– Lowering the risk for diseases
– Improving / maintaining mental function
– Improving physical function
– Socially engaging in life
Nutrition Intervention Lowers Risk
for Disease
• 80% older population have 1 chronic disease
• 50% have 2 or more chronic diseases
• Average 75 year old has 3 chronic diseases and
takes 5 prescription drugs
• 9 out of 10 of these have a condition that could
be improved through nutrition intervention
– 52 – 168 million folks are hypertensive
– 54 – 164 million have high cholesterol levels
– 132 – 330 million are diabetic
Nutrition Intervention – Mental
Function
• Cognition
– Nutrients
• Vitamins B-6, B-12, Folate
• Minerals – Iron
• Water
– Food sources
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Lean protein
Fruits
Vegetables
Whole grains
• Attitude
Nutrition Intervention – Physical
• Functional
• Dentures
• GI tract changes
• Change in body mass
• Muscle mass
• Fat mass
• Water
• Loss of bone
• Posture
• Security with activity
Nutrition Intervention – Physical
• Eyes
– Retinal degeneration
• β-carotene
• Dark green or yellow/orange fruits and veggies
– Visual acuity
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Phytochemicals + vitamins
Nutrition Intervention
• Brain
– Short term memory
• B-6 + Ascorbic acid
– Problem solving
• Riboflavin + folate + Ascorbic Acid + B-12
– Dementia
• Thiamin + niacin + zinc
– Brain tissue degeneration
• Pyridoxine
• α-tocopherol
Nutrition Intervention – Social
• Spouse / significant other
– Person
– Pet
– Plant
• Congregate Meals
• Meals delivered
Specific Challenges for Optimizing
Long Term Nutritional Care
• Eating – Food is a basic need
– Mechanical issues
• Appetite – Meet sensory needs
– Taste
– Feel
– Smell
• Restrictive diets
– Balance the Benefits & Risks
Specific Challenges for Optimizing
Long Term Nutritional Care
• Polypharmacy
– Drugs
– Herbs
– Supplements
• Psychological -- depression
• Balance
– Quality of Life & Nutritional Status
Solutions /Strategies
• Dentition
– Check with dentist
– Alter food texture
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Chop
Steam
Stew
Grate or grind hard foods
– grated carrots & raisin salad
Solutions /Strategies
• Osteoporosis
– Weight bearing exercise + calcium rich diet
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Milk – skimmed or buttermilk
Yogurt
Cheese
Lots of green ‘leafies’
Solutions /Strategies
• Challenges with visual acuity
– Bright distinct colors – food
– Contrast on plate
– Big print
– Magnifying help with labels
Solutions / Strategies
• Challenges with hearing
– Check hearing
– ASK for info
– Check with the ‘waiter’
Solutions / Strategies
• Challenges with smell / taste
– Variety of food flavors
– Special diet? Try
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Lemon juice
Vinegar
Dill
Curry
– Reawaken senses to fresh, flavorful foods
with texture
Practical Strategy – Eat Food
• Lean Protein –
– Muscle Mass / Function
– + iron, zinc, B-12, B-6
– + calcium, riboflavin, B-12
Practical Strategy – Eat Food
• Fruits
– + vitamin C
– + β-carotene & other carotenoids
– Potassium
– Fiber
Practical Strategy – Eat Food
• Vegetables
– + vitamin C
– + β-carotene & other carotenoids
– Fiber
Practical Strategy – Eat Food
• Whole Grain
– + vitamin E
– + thiamin, riboflavin, niacin
– Fiber
– Incomplete process
• Selected Fats (nuts, oils, etc)
– Omega – 3 fatty acids
– Vitamin E
Take Home Message
• Good Nutrition is a major determinate for
successful aging
• Good Nutrition is essential for
– Health
– Independence
– Quality of Life
• Message –
– Food is the key
Or . . . The better choice